Back of all this mess, Raul saw his father. Full of bitterness, he walked to the living room and examined the smashed windows, the pocked walls, the damaged chandelier. He asked a scared maid to sweep up the smashed glass. Together they knocked out damaged panes. That job done, he sat down, but he had scarcely caught his breath when Gabriel came in, looking beaten.
"Let's both have a brandy," said Raul. "I was thinking..."
"No, not now. I..."
"What is it?"
"Two of our people were shot, a few minutes ago."
"I heard no shooting. Where?"
"Behind the corral."
"Who got shot?"
"Teresa and María Eugenia. They're dead."
"Two women—the scum ... to shoot women!" Raul exclaimed. The last time he had seen María and Teresa they had been preparing food in the kitchen.